The Ribble Valley

The Ribble Valley is a close kept secret to most folk. The Queen once said that she would like to retire to this particular part of Lancashire. As I have lived in Blackburn since 1969 I have grown to know the area quite well and feel visitors to Thurnham Hall could do themselves a favour by taking a day out to explore the delights of the valley.

Most people have heard of Stonyhurst College, even if it is only through the connection with Tolkien and his famous work "The Hobbit" and "The Lord of the Rings" trilogy. Tolkiens sons attended Stonyhurst and the area around the college was the inspiration for the fictitious homeland of the Hobbits, Middle Earth.

The college is a famous Roman Catholic boarding school and is close by the pretty village of Hurst Green. However, before becoming a college the building was originally the family home of the Shireburne's. It was built in 1648 and Oliver Cromwell rested there in 1648 prior to the Battle of Preston.

The Shireburnes died out and the house deteriorated before being given to the Jesuits in 1794, who set up a school there, where it has remained ever since. The Shireburn Arms in Hurst Green celebtrates their name.

There is a connection with the Shireburne family and the church of All Hallows at Great Mitton. This church dates from 1270 and has just been restored. The church has a chancel screen which is thought to have come from Sawley Abbey.

The Cistercian Abbey at Sawley (picture to right) was founded in 1147 but was destroyed by command of Henry VIII in 1537. It is well worth a visit and you can take refreshment at the Spread Eagle where you can the enjoy the setting of this cottage-style seventeenth-century inn. The Riverside Restaurant provides excellent views of the River Ribble and the Bowland Hills beyond. Chef Greig Barnes trained with Paul Heathcote!

While on the subject of food, if you continue on the A59 from Sawley and head over to Skipton, you pass through Gisburn ( the supposed birth-place of Guy of Gisburn, arch foe of Robin Hood and Steward to the Sherrif of Nottingham). In the centre of the village is the White Bull Hotel . Behind the village is Gisburne Park and the River Ribble provides its northern boundary.

Continue on towards Skipton which is a busy North Yorkshire Market town. The Angel at Hetton provides fabulous food and makes a great day out. It is six miles from Skipton along the B6265.

OK, just drifted away from the Ribble Valley there. Best get back down the A59 to Clitheroe. This is the primary market town of the Ribble Valley. The A59 used to pass straight through the town but the by-pass now takes all the main traffic so you can enjoy wondering about in peace. Looking East from Clitheroe you cannot miss the dark and brooding Pendle Hill - the home of the Witches of Pendle. Visit the nearby villages of Pendleton, Worston, Downham and Rimington which all lie in the shadow of Pendle Hill, near Clitheroe. It is a lovely drive all around Pendle Hill. To the West of the hill are the Pendle Witch villages of Barley, Newchurch in Pendle and Sabden (for the famous Treacle Mines!!).

Travel south from Clitheroe on the A59 to reach Whalley and visit Whalley Abbey. Take the B6246 to Great Mitton. Call in at the Three Fishes. Pick up the B6243 to Hurst Green and Stonyhurst College. Continue along the B6243 to Longridge and check out The Longridge Restaurant. Maybe call in before that at Ribchester. This is an ancient Roman Settlement on the banks of the River Ribble. A Roman Fort was established here. Artefacts can be viewed in the Roman Museum. See the roman pillars either side of the entrance to the White Bull.

In this part of the Ribble Valley it is hard to not notice Longridge Fell. Excellent views of the whole region and out to the coast can be had from the top of Jeffrey Hill. Having gone to the north of Longridge Fell you should visit the pretty village of Chipping which lies in the valley bottom between Longridge Fell and the majestic collection of Fells that make up the Forest of Bowland. At this side of Longridge Fell lies the River Hodder. This meanders along the valley bottomaway from Chipping, towards Bashall Eaves, past the end of Longridge Fell and Stonyhurst College to join the Ribble at Great Mitton.

From Chipping the drive to Slaidburn passes through fine farmland. The reward is to stop off for afternoon tea at The Hark to Bounty Inn in the village. You could then double back to Newton, another of the Villages of Bowland. Follow the road on to Dunsop Bridge, the gravitational centre of our island. You can now follow the road back to Thurnham via the Trough of Bowland.

Sid Jenkinson - 11th December 2006